At a very young age, Helio Gracie learned traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu techniques
from his older brother, Carlos. In the late 1920s, he began to modify these techniques
to accommodate his frail physique with the objective of developing a system that
would enable him to defend himself against larger opponents. After years of refinement,
he proved his art's effectiveness by routinely defeating larger and stronger
opponents, some of whom outweighed him by as much as 100 pounds. As a result, Helio's
techniques quickly became the new expression of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil and set the
stage for a worldwide revolution in martial arts.

Although Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the most effective martial art on the planet,
it is a relatively young martial art. Realizing that the key to global dissemination
of pure Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was the development of a formalized curriculum, the Gracie
Academy dedicated several years to organizing all the techniques in the most logical
sequence based on their complexity and usefulness in combat. Furthermore, we conduct
all group classes with the utmost concern for safety, and we demand that all students
treat each other respectfully regardless of skill level, gender, race, nationality,
or creed. At the Gracie Academy we don't teach people how to fight. We give people
confidence so they don't need to fight.

Gracie Combatives is the official beginner program of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. In this program, students learn the 36 most important techniques in a fun, safe, and cooperative training environment.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a way of life. The principles of discipline, patience, efficiency, and control are the keys to success on and off the mat. Whether your a dedicated practitioner of the art or just a fan of the Gracie way, the casual wear, training gear, and accessories in the Gracie Store will remind you to keep it real at all times. With all Gracie Store purchases, your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you're not 100% happy with your purchase, simply send it back and we'll replace it or refund your money (as long as you promise not to choke us out!). Select a category below to begin browsing, and then feel free to order online or give us a call at 1-877-472-2430 (Monday - Friday, 10am to 6pm PST) and we will gladly assist you over the phone. If you have a question about the status of your order feel free to shoot us an e-mail at
store@gracieacademy.com.

Gracie News

Police Officer Shot With His Own Gun

April 11, 2013

By Holbrook Mohr and Jeff Amy

An article recently published on PoliceOne.com reminds us of the everyday threats facing law enforcement professionals. The statistics of police officers being shot with their own weapons is alarmingly high, which is why much of the GST program is dedicated to close-quarters weapon retention techniques...learn more

JACKSON, Miss. - A murder suspect wrestled a gun away from the detective interrogating him at police headquarters in Mississippi's capital, then fatally shot the officer before killing himself, authorities said Friday.

Smith, 40, had been with the agency nearly 20 years, was physically fit and was praised for his work leading numerous high-profile murder investigations, officials said.

"Eric was killed with his own gun," Strain said. Strain said he didn't have details about the gun but said it was Smith's service weapon.

Officials are slowly releasing details of how the men died Thursday. The state agency took over the investigation from the Jackson Police Department.

Powell was being questioned in connection with the stabbing death earlier this week of a 20-year-old Jackson man.

Autopsies were being performed Friday at the state crime laboratory, but Strain said it could be several days before the findings are released. The policy of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety is that autopsy reports are not released until they are completed, and some tests could take a few days, he said.

Meanwhile, city and state officials continued to mourn the death of Smith.

"He had a lot of analytical intelligence," said Hinds County Supervisor Robert Anderson, a former Jackson police officer who instructed Graham in a training class at the city's police academy. "He could develop his own leads and his own information. No one had to tell him what to do."

"Let us all come together as a city to mourn the loss of this exceptional member of the Jackson Police Department family," Johnson said in a statement. "Though we will never know the full measure of sorrow experienced by the family of Detective Smith, we can let them know that we stand with them during this difficult time."

Gov. Phil Bryant, a former Hinds County sheriff's deputy, also noted Smith's passing at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Smith is survived by his wife, Eneke, a sergeant with the Jackson Police Department, and two sons, Eric Smith Jr. and Quentin Smith. The family lived in a recently-built subdivision in Clinton, a western suburb of Jackson.

Clay Norton, the athletic director and head basketball coach at Clinton High School, said Eric Smith Jr. played on the basketball team before graduating in 2012. The younger Smith now attends Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where he was a forward on the school's basketball team. Quentin Smith is a high school senior this year participating in football, track and powerlifting, Norton said.

"Eric was involved in Quentin and Eric's sporting lives," Norton said. "He was always there to pitch in, working concessions or selling programs."

The Smiths live near the high school, and Norton said many students visited the family home. He said school counselors had spoken to some students Friday about the death.

"Eric was real close to a lot of the kids. Their home was always open," Norton said. "Eric and Quentin know how to act. They are always respectful and polite, and that indicates good parenting."